The Redneck Dox Box

I often find myself out in the garage or yard area doing something that doesn't involve the weens but they want to be where I am.   I had originally constructed a little hidy hole with blankies they could snuggle in which they didn't seem to mind but I never dared to take a photo of it as it was an abomination to creative minds all over.  So this morning while I was out dinking around in the garage I looked over at said abomination and thought. I can do much better than that.  

So hence the title of this postie.  The Redneck Dox Box.  
You'll get it when you get to the next paragraph.  Ha!
I will always try to figure out a way to create something out of things we have on hand before I waste precious time, energy and GAS $$ to drive 25 + miles miles north or south to the bigger towns. I believe in up-cycling.  Sure I could have bought an actual Dogloo (yes the word Dogloo is a linky... ) You will see why I chose not too.

I had a very large tote that the lid had busted on long ago but it was still handy for things so we had kept it.  
What to do with an old large tote?  Why cut a hole in the side of it of course.   No lid?  Well heck, we can fix that too.  This summer led me to the dump of all places as I was trying to find a grate to put over our fire pit.  We don't have the store bought fire pit. We have the real kind, dug into the dirt, lined with rocks and such.  It's big.  We could roast 5 Weenies over it if we wanted to.  The Nathans kind preferably.  But we could NOT find a grate for it.  Walmart carries the smaller pit style grate kind but our pit ate it up.  So .... nothing like a little old upright freezer to supply what we needed.  For free.   So that got plopped on top and topped off with an old front door greeting mat that has long since faded and the "wipe your paws" wording a piece of history.  Place old blankie in and you've got a little weenie roasting sauna going on.


Tobias was the first to inspect... 


Then Molly .. 


Coming back out.. Mishka still wasn't sure. 


Gentle persuasion with Shiloh as he is blind but if you look closely you can see his butt in the opening. He got it really quick and nested right away. 


Peeking in ... I see no complaints ... they kind of reminded me of how puppies are in a little box all cute and bouncing up to say "pick me pick me!"
  


The end..  



Thanks for peeking. :)

My McDougall Cabinet is ... HOME!!

Without my Mom's encouragement and knowledge on the "how to, handy woman" front I would have been one pathetic little mess.  She helped me with the entire process, we had moments of giggling laughter down to shaking our heads looking at the cabinet wondering.  At least I know I wondered several times why on earth I decided it was something I could do.  I am glad she had faith in me to keep pushing me along the entire project.  Now my beautiful McDougall stands proudly in my kitchen and I know I couldn't have done it without my amazing Mommy.  I love you Mom!!!

Everything was kept as original as possible other than new paint, a few new screws and of course the jadeite knobs and drawer pulls.  I had considered getting new hinges but the ones she came with cleaned up decent enough that I decided to put them back on her.  Maybe with time I'll gift her with newer hardware but for now she has aged character and I love it.  

A little before reminder of how she once looked and the first photo I ever saw of her.  She was in very rough shape. 




Here she is ... in all her lovely refurbished glory!  


I have a smallish house so she rests between the refrigerator and the stove.


The kitchen is galley style so, long yet narrow and hard to get a good frontal shot..


Her cute little bottom half ...


 Her wonderful top half.


 

Vintage Christmas Happiness

There is no greater pleasure in my life ( material wise ) than Christmas.  Especially vintage Christmas anything.  I live and breath this time of year when I have an excuse to bring all my treasures out like an insane hoarder and get away with the display.   There is something special about each ormament and decoration that I find.  The stories they whisper to me of Christmastimes past fills my heart with utter joy.

Enough of my blather.. onto the picture intense postie..
The outside... darling hubby next to worlds most hideous contraption. ( I am not a fan of blow ups but he likes it so it stays )







Welcome to my kitchen area ....


Our newest member was a dying snow baby tree that came back to life..




My beloved and precious tinsel tree


























The most loved ornament on my tree amazingly enough is not even old.. 



Thanks for peeking at my crazy Christmas. :)

BeBe Kringle

He's not amused... not one itty bitty bit.



A little bribery ...


Refusing to give me the time of day..




Fine then .. Mommy gives up and guess who gets cute under the tree.  :)



Thanks for peeking!  :)

Mishka Clause

One again the flashy thing came out and once again I ended up with blurred photos.  Oh well the memories are mainly for me but I like to share the semi decent ones. :) 




You got those nomz I asked for .. right Momma?


Thanks for peeking friends!
I am slow in getting back into daily blogging but I am trying.  It's cathartic and I need cathartic! :)

Merry Miss Molly

She's such a good little girl but literally HATES to pose for me.  I promised her no flash and lots of treats if she'd just give me one slightly decent photo to share with the world.


She literally gave me one slightly decent photo out of 15 shots, all blurry except this one. 

Lazy Thanksgiving Morning

Because he could...  this little heart ween is so spoiled.  ;) 

Wishing you all a very blessed Thanksgiving.   

~ Sarah & the Weens

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Puree

Nothing more daunting that looking at a Pumpkin and thinking.. Yes.. I can do this! 
Now with that being "thought and never done" I decided to do it... today ... 30 minutes ago if you will.   It's a relatively quick process too.  Who would have known.

Pumpkin... check!   Sharpish knife... check!  Pot to steam the pumpkin in... Check! Oster handheld puree'erer thinga ma bob.  Check!


Sitting pretty waiting to be steamed..


Silent screams can be heard from pumpkins everywhere that are viewing this..


mmm steamed pumpkin guts


pureed pumpkin guts


Spiced Pumpkin guts



One word of warning. No matter HOW tempting it is. Don't stick your finger into hot pumpkin guts. 
( what.. .I couldn't resist and didn't have a spoon, sadly.. lesson learned but oh so yummy!!  )

Now once it's cooled part can go into the frig for tomorrows pie baking and the rest will be sealed in freezer containers for later use. :) 

Thanks for peeking!!!

Dragging, lagging and cave dwelling

I have pretty much fallen off the face of blog posting, the dachshund forum I once participated in with glee and life for the most part other than Facebook.  Call it the lack of sunshine, trying to figure out what path to take next as things haven't been the greatest, life getting in the way, a touch of depression and missing Kai a lot lately as I have come to realize this will be a Kai'less Christmas that's coming up.  Meh..

But I wanted to say hello world, we're still alive and kicking.  The furbabies are good and two were nice enough to give me a decent photo a few moments ago so they could say hello too.We will try to be a little more "postie" and less absent.





Hope everyone that sees this is doing well!!!   :)

Serving up a little Molly appetizer

Someone is a naughty ween today ....

I am wordless for how naughty she is. :)

Fall Walkies

Yesterday ( Oct 20th ) was such a lovely day out hubby and I decided that a bit of walkies was in order.  Emma was of course always game as that little girl could live outside in the bushes if I let her I bet :)  Zoe was of course off at my parents Tug playing peek a boo with the fish and her fishing pole.

Checking out a neat spiderweb. 


I sure love these two! :) 


Which way ... choices choices ...


I am going this way!  ( something interesting in the bushes beyond the photo )


And a rather shakey video as I was holding them on one hand and trying to use my phone with the other. NEXT time I will "think" to take the regular camera with me for better photos and video to share. ;)

McDougall Cabinet.. making progress

 I had a very big A'HA moment this afternoon.  From all the research I have done I concluded that my cabinet was in fact a McDougall but NOTHING is better than a little paint removal to see a basic outline of what once was ...  It was the teeny bit of proof that finally concreted my feelings about what make it was. 

If you look carefully you can see the MCDOU portion of McDougall.  Yeah.  I let out a yip of joy when I saw it myself. ;)


A second splash of paint today since the weather was lovely here on the Oregon coast. I feel like it's "getting there" as far as being closer to coming home and being tucked away in my kitchen.  I guess I have a couple more coats to go.  I have no clue, I just go by what my domestic diva Momma tells me. If only I had inherited her skills for sewing and eye for turning the most run down into something amazing.  I still think I got a bit over my head with the hoosier but she's been a fantastic cheerleader the whole process. :)





Only the areas that will actually be view are getting painted.  I see no reason to waste paint if it's literally going to be behind a drawer where it will never see the light of day again.  ;)



Today was also a de-uglyfy day for the hardware.  I've still got a ways to go but the brass is showing now and that makes me happy!

5 befores and 2 afters.  


That thing to the right of the photo .. I thank my darling hubby for allowing me to "play" with his tools. Sadly I now know why he can't hear me very well about an hour or so after he's been out in the garage doodling around at the bench.  I feel rather deaf hours later.


I am still considering putting green milk glass pulls and knobs in place of the originals but while I debate that idea I thought I might tidy the originals up and perhaps use them if I haven't made my mind up before the cabinet is done. 


Please feel free to check out the Coloradolady for wonderful vintage treasures, adorable dachsie photos and other wonderful links to many more vintage styled blogs.  :)  />